Some say she is an ‘Old Tom’ because she taught at the prestigious St. Thomas Aquinas SHS in Accra for 18 years.
Others say she is a Prison Officer because she spent her time after school in correctional facilities attending to the needs of inmates.
That is the story of Sr. Claudette Burkle, SSpS a Religious Sister of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit.
Described by many as a true embodiment of selflessness, Sister Claudette’s journey began in 1959 when she arrived in Ghana as a missionary.
Over the span of 55 years, she devoted herself tirelessly to the service of others, leaving an indelible mark on the educational landscape and the lives of countless individuals.
At her 91st birthday and Send-Off Mass on February 23, at the Madonna Basic School in Koforidua attended by old Students of St. Thomas Aquinas SHS, members of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, Bishops Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD of the Keta-Akatsi Diocese, and Joseph Afrifrah-Agyekum of the Koforidua Diocese, Niece of the celebrant, Erin King-Hoggatt, priests and religious as well as friends and loved ones, the mood could be described mixed.
Joy for the many lives touched by Sister and sorrow over the fact that it was time to say goodbye.
“I got to know Sister Claudette when she was teaching at St. Thomas Aquinas SHS, and I must say over the years, I have come to admire her dedication to her missionary work,” remarked Msgr. Bobby Benson, founder of Mathew 25 House, an HIV and AIDS care facility in Koforidua. “All her time after school, she spent in the prisons. She goes there to support the prisoners, staff, and their families,” Msgr. Bobby Benson added.
Indeed, Sister Claudette’s compassion extended far beyond the walls of the classroom, as testified by Fr. Benjamin Ohene, Headmaster of Pope John SHS, Minor Seminary. “The homeless, she sheltered them, the hungry, she gave them food to eat, and for those who were even on drugs, Sr. had so much love for them,” he recounted. “Sister will pay the school fees of those who could not afford and provide lunch for those who had no food.”
For many, Sister Claudette was not only an educator but also a pillar of strength and support during times of adversity. Prince Zakaria, a beneficiary of Sister’s generosity, shared his journey from the Borstal Institute to academic success, all made possible by Sister Claudette’s unwavering belief in his potential.
Vice Provincial of the SVD Ghana Province, Rev. Fr. Stephen Dogodzi, SVD described her as a person of positive energy saying, “Sr. Claudette was my teacher. In form one, she taught me Mathematics and the following year, Religious Studies. One thing I remember about her is her level of motivation. She would give you something to encourage you when you did well. She knew all my family and I will greatly miss her.”
As Sister Claudette bids farewell to her active service, her legacy of compassion and kindness continues to resonate deeply within the hearts of those she leaves behind. Sr. Lidwina Ohe Koban, SSpS, community leader of the SSPs Modona community, expressed her sentiments, saying, “It is very easy to live with her. She is leaving, and we will miss her. She is going to rest, but we will ask her to continue for us, her sisters, and the Ghanaian community.”
Sister Claudette arrived in Ghana in 1969 from the USA and has rendered 55 years of service to Ghana out of which she spent 18 years as a mathematics teacher at the St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School and others including St Mary’s Secondary School in Accra.
She was later transferred to Madonna International School in Koforidua as administrator where she retired from active service.
